When a brand like Chevrolet controls over 50 percent of the full-size SUV segment, you have to stay ahead of the curve to continue that domination. The 2015 Chevrolet Suburban 2WD LTZ does just that, and after a week behind the wheel of this super-sized ride, you come to realize why Chevy owns this market!

EXTERIOR

The exterior design of the 2015 Suburban is more refined and precisely sculpted. New inlaid doors fit into the body side openings instead of over the top of the body, significantly improving the quietness of the interior cabin and contributing to improved aerodynamics – an attribute that helps the vehicles slip through the air on the highway with less drag for greater efficiency. Lightweight aluminum hood and liftgate panels also enhance efficiency through reduced overall mass.

Projector-beam headlamps flank the Chevrolet-signature dual-port grille – chrome on all models – and sweep into the front fenders. High-intensity discharge headlamps and light-emitting diode daytime running lamps are included on LTZ as tested, along with an exclusive chrome grille surround.

The new hands-free liftgate feature allows a customer with a keyless entry fob – and full hands – to open and close the liftgate by waving his or her foot under a sensor beneath the rear fascia. It is standard on the LTZ and available on the LT edition. Additional exterior features include a windshield with an angle that’s raked forward more than before and is flattened at the corners for better wiper performance; laminated windshield and front door glass that contributes to a quieter ride; lower front fascias to accommodate radar-based safety technology; and for a more refined appearance, a B-pillar that’s been moved forward slightly and a C-pillar that’s a little straighter, making it easier to get in and out of the vehicles – especially when climbing into the third row.

LTZ models feature more bright trim on the fascias, grille, body sides, mirror caps and more, and the LTZ also offers power-retractable and illuminated side steps. The 22-inch aluminum wheels really took the appearance to a new level and gave that extra sport look to an already sporty looking SUV.

INTERIOR

Inside, premium materials and enhanced ergonomics demonstrate the Suburban’s blend of sophistication, craftsmanship and function. The instrument panel, for example, has a straightforward design featuring a large, easy-to-view cluster. It includes a 4.2-inch color driver information center display in the center of the cluster for vehicle, infotainment and other data. There’s also an eight-inch-diagonal color touch screen radio on LT and LTZ models in the center of the instrument panel, incorporating secured storage behind the motorized screen. With the wireless phone charging feature, a magnetic inductive charging system allows users to simply place their phone on a small mat in the vehicle, where it charges without the need to plug it in.

To give owners the added functionality of going from passenger space to cargo usage, the third-row seat now folds flat to the floor. The second- and third-row seats’ available power-release folding option makes it easier to load bulky items from the rear, and eases entry/exit to the third row. Power-release folding switches are located at the second-row doors and at the rear liftgate opening. The 2015 Suburban’s next-generation MyLink gives customers the best of both worlds when it comes to infotainment. It provides easy, intuitive operation of basic functions, yet it is also highly customizable and capable of linking up to 10 devices such as smartphones, SD cards and MP3 players, giving customers and their families more ways of staying connected.

Enhanced connectivity and convenience includes a new Text Messaging Alerts feature for smartphone users with Bluetooth profile (M.A.P.), which reads incoming texts through the vehicle’s speakers, and Siri Eyes Free for iPhone iOS 6 and iOS 7 users to enhance connectivity and convenience. Each enables voice-controlled connectivity to help keep phones safely stored and hands on the wheel. OnStar with 4G LTE and standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected. The hotspot is on whenever the vehicle is on and comes with a three-month/three-gigabyte data trial.

PERFORMANCE

The first time we drove the 2015 Chevrolet Suburban 2WD LTZ, we were sold on the handling and performance, because large SUVs like the Suburban just don’t drive this good. Suburban’s new EcoTec3 5.3L V-8 engine is rated at 355 horsepower (265 kW) and 383 lb-ft of torque (519 Nm), and features state-of-the-art technologies including direct injection, cylinder deactivation, continuously variable valve timing and an advanced combustion system – all designed to make the most of power, torque and efficiency across a broad range of operating conditions.

The technologies contribute to EPA-estimated 16 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway (2WD) – a nearly 10-percent increase in highway mileage over the previous models and 7-percent greater city mileage. Improved engine mounts, electronic throttle control, adaptive exhaust systems, improved aerodynamics and other technologies help the engines operate in four-cylinder mode longer with Active Fuel Management, contributing further to efficiency. A Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission is paired with the new 5.3L engine and contributes to efficiency with reduced engine speed on the highway. It also features TapShift control, tow/haul mode and auto grade braking. Because the safest crash is the one that never happens, the Suburban is equipped with standard and available technologies that serve as an extra set of eyes and ears to the driver, including an available safety alert seat that vibrates if the system determines the driver is at risk of colliding with another vehicle.

Driver assistance begins with a standard rear vision camera that shows the area immediately behind the vehicle in the audio screen. The camera is especially helpful when hooking up a trailer. It also offers the segment’s only Front Center Air Bag (bucket seat models). This available feature deploys from the inboard side of the driver’s seat and inflates between the driver and front passenger, providing added protection for both front occupants in side-impact crashes.

OVERVIEW

The 2015 Chevrolet Suburban 2WD LTZ is an imposing figure, but with the new design, this SUV is much more sleek and sporty looking. If you are looking for an SUV that delivers on just about all fronts, then the 2015 Chevrolet Suburban 2WD LTZ could be the one for you. The ride is superb, and for a sticker price of $68,885 as tested, you bring home a whole lot of vehicle with an upscale feel.